Climbing stands disadvantage?

[WTNBowHunter]

I've never had a problem shooting a bow out of a climber.

Same.

Finding the right tree with a climber can, not always or majority of the time, be tricky but that's all I grew up using. I do have a saddle now and have really enjoyed hunting with it. Now I dont even think about the tree being straight(ish) or the limbs that would need to be cut..I just climb with the sticks. It, like anything else, takes some practice getting use to. I don't have it mastered but it's a fun way to hunt. Just my thoughts…

 

[WTNBowHunter]

I just can't fathom a saddle being comfortable. My Summit Viper I can stay as long as I want to stay . I've slept many hours in my stand and when you get older you'll need those naps . Yes there are times you can't find a tree but rarely. I've even shot deer on my way to an evening stand with my Summit on my back .

No naps for me in the saddle compared to those I took in my summit either . I still climb occasionally, mostly hunt out of lock-ons but the saddle is a good way to bow hunt. The saddle is surprisingly comfortable though, just takes some time figuring out what you like to do regarding leaning vs. sitting.

 

[Bushape]

How much do you think climbing stands hamper your chances to get shots when bowhunting? I mean finding a right climbable tree more often than not?
Also just overall, easier to pack than a saddle and sticks and less fuss and noise than dragging in a ladder?

Been using an Ol man for years now. Obviously preparation and scouting allow for the highest level of success. Can be a little bulky and loud fumbling around in the dark but if you don't all out blow a spot out trying to get setup deer are going to come to your racket a lot of times. I am 44 years old and it took me entirely too long to realize cover and wind are the top considerations for bow hunting. 9 foot off of the ground, broken up by a beech or cedar, is all you need to have success. I used to want to always be over 20 feet high and there just isn't any sense in it unless the situation dictates it.

 

[TheLBLman]

I am 44 years old and it took me entirely too long to realize cover and wind are the top considerations for bow hunting. 9 foot off of the ground, broken up by a beech or cedar, is all you need to have success. I used to want to always be over 20 feet high and there just isn't any sense in it unless the situation dictates it.

I agree.
But suspect I find the situation dictating 20 feet high or higher more often.

Often, I just cannot find that ideal cover (like beech & cedar trees), and find it particularly where I can remain upwind of deer. For me, mainly with bowhunting, the very best defense for shifting winds is being over 20 feet high, where your scent often passes over nearby deer.

And, in the absence of good cover, being higher (above a deer's more routine line of sight) is the next best thing to good cover.

It is often easier to find that good cover at 9 feet than at 20-plus feet.
It is also typically less practical to utilize a saddle, hang-on, or ladder stand when you prefer to go 20 feet or higher (particularly if you're more a mobile hunter).

 

[tree_ghost]

climbers are just another tool in the arsenal. Do they hamper you as a bow hunter? I'd say only if you allow it to. Are they perfect for every scenario, no, but neither is any other system out there and I have them all lol.

I know a stone cold killer on this site who exclusively bowhunts with a summit climber and he stacks big bucks up like cord wood….

 

[DMD]

How much do you think climbing stands hamper your chances to get shots when bowhunting? I mean finding a right climbable tree more often than not?
Also just overall, easier to pack than a saddle and sticks and less fuss and noise than dragging in a ladder?

I'm a climbing stand guy. I know saddles probably better option in areas with no straight trees to climb. But, very few times I've had issues where i hunt.

 

[fairchaser]

I use climbers almost exclusively and take them in and out with each hunt. If I pre scout, I will lean two or three branches against the tree I want to climb and mark my GPS so I can find it in the dark. I don't t want deer smelling my climber the night before my hunt. I've learned to attach it to the tree and climb quietly without disturbing deer.

 

[AlexDad]

I've had 4 high end complete saddle setups with 6 different sets of high end and light sticks. Sold every set up and keep going back to a climber. First off I hate hanging sticks so I might be a bit biased when it comes to saddles and hang ons just for that reason. I did give a saddle four good seasons before completely ditching it and going back to a climber full time.

I know saddles are supposed to weigh less but you take a saddle, platform, sticks and 72 ropes and the weight savings isn't really that great. What I really got tired of was when I get to hunting height and standing on my platform, then I have to hang 15 ropes so I can hang all my gear. Then the be all end all is I'm just really uncomfortable in every one I've hung in. I've had four different saddles, demo'd a blue million of them on demo days and I just fidget constantly trying to get comfortable. I tried one sticking but that's an even smaller platform and I'm a sitter. I've had three different brands of knee pads, two different pads and even strapped both pads together and used two pads in conjunction with knee pads. I have had 3 knee surgeries so maybe that's it. I can't stand for long, my knees go onto autopilot and lock out, next thing I know my legs are asleep or I'm locked up.

I see people demo'ing at the archery club for 5-10 minutes and talking about how comfortable they are - I could nail a Home Depot bucket to a tree and be comfortable for 10 minutes, when it goes past that it starts to get iffy.

I may carry 4-5 lbs more with a climber but for an all day sit I just have to be comfortable. It does me no good to have the lightest setup on earth and walk 5 miles into the woods if after 20 minutes I'm miserable and want to climb down and go home. In the last 4 years I did a LOT of all day sits in a saddle and was miserable on every one of them.

With a climber I can climb as high as the tree allows. I never come up one stick short and I never have to leave one on the ground because there's good cover at say 12-15'. I'm just a climber guy I guess.

 

[TheLBLman]

I've learned to attach it to the tree and climb quietly without disturbing deer.

Same here.
I can more consistently NOT spook deer with a climber than with a pre-placed steel ladder stand.

The real "trick" with a climber is simply using them often enough to gain the experience of using them efficiently & quietly. I've yet figure out how to prevent a sudden loud metallic "POP" from a steel ladder stand on a still cold morning. That even happens with Millennium ladder stands.

 

[Snake]

I've actually climbed a tree and when it's gets daylight have a deer get up out of a bed within 15 yards of my tree . I've found that deer at times will still stay on bed if it hears something but if they wind you they'll bust out of there like a bullet. Prescouting should determine weather or not you will have a climbable tree in the area you plan to hunt . If it's your property you already should know . Climber for me and if it gets much worse for my back carrying it guess I'll go back to sitting on the ground .

 

[AlexDad]

I've actually climbed a tree and when it's gets daylight have a deer get up out of a bed within 15 yards of my tree . I've found that deer at times will still stay on bed if it hears something but if they wind you they'll bust out of there like a bullet. Prescouting should determine weather or not you will have a climbable tree in the area you plan to hunt . If it's your property you already should know . Climber for me and if it gets much worse for my back carrying it guess I'll go back to sitting on the ground .

I've shot quite a few deer on my way up a tree with a climber. I have the 3rd Hand bow holder that you can put your bow in it and climb the tree. That's another advantage for me, not pulling my bow up or letting it down with a little rope. I've been on my way up and seen deer in the distance got small and quiet and took the shot when they came in, same thing on the way down.

There were more than a few times I got on my platform and tied off and all the sudden deer were around me and my bow was on the ground saddle hunting. What happened most of the time is I decided to call it a day and about the time my bow hit the ground deer were around.

I have an Eberlestock X2 and my Summit straps to it and it has a kidney belt. At 20# it's like it's not there. Everything is on my back but I have my bow in hand. I've shot a few walking in so I want my bow ready. When I hang the climber on the tree I put my Wingman self rescue tether on the tree, my bow in the bow holder and backpack on my back. When I get to hunting height I cinch down the 3rd Hand straps, my tether and bow are already in position. I literally take off my back pack and sit it on the platform under my seat and sit down - and I'm hunting.

No muss, no fuss. I know others prefer hang ons or saddles and that's great, just more tools in the box. I have a light weight hang on and light weight sticks and I've kept a saddle setup. I hope to goodness I don't have to use either, but they're there.

The only reason I even bought a hang on and the saddles was I bought some land to hunt in 2019, it was 50 acres. It had been logged before and I didn't have climbable trees. Since I picked up the 51 acres next door and see no reason to not solely go back to a climber.

 

[Mr.Bro]

I've had 4 high end complete saddle setups with 6 different sets of high end and light sticks. Sold every set up and keep going back to a climber. First off I hate hanging sticks so I might be a bit biased when it comes to saddles and hang ons just for that reason. I did give a saddle four good seasons before completely ditching it and going back to a climber full time.

I know saddles are supposed to weigh less but you take a saddle, platform, sticks and 72 ropes and the weight savings isn't really that great. What I really got tired of was when I get to hunting height and standing on my platform, then I have to hang 15 ropes so I can hang all my gear. Then the be all end all is I'm just really uncomfortable in every one I've hung in. I've had four different saddles, demo'd a blue million of them on demo days and I just fidget constantly trying to get comfortable. I tried one sticking but that's an even smaller platform and I'm a sitter. I've had three different brands of knee pads, two different pads and even strapped both pads together and used two pads in conjunction with knee pads. I have had 3 knee surgeries so maybe that's it. I can't stand for long, my knees go onto autopilot and lock out, next thing I know my legs are asleep or I'm locked up.

I see people demo'ing at the archery club for 5-10 minutes and talking about how comfortable they are - I could nail a Home Depot bucket to a tree and be comfortable for 10 minutes, when it goes past that it starts to get iffy.

I may carry 4-5 lbs more with a climber but for an all day sit I just have to be comfortable. It does me no good to have the lightest setup on earth and walk 5 miles into the woods if after 20 minutes I'm miserable and want to climb down and go home. In the last 4 years I did a LOT of all day sits in a saddle and was miserable on every one of them.

With a climber I can climb as high as the tree allows. I never come up one stick short and I never have to leave one on the ground because there's good cover at say 12-15'. I'm just a climber guy I guess.

The real truth about saddles unvailed!

 

[knightrider]

The real truth about saddles unvailed!

Not really, different folks like different things. I can sit im my saddle from daylight till dark and doesnt bother me a bit, most comfortable way ive ever hunted in a tree. Hang ons,ladders, and climbers two hours tops and my back is toast and cant walk good for two days

 

[AlexDad]

Not really, different folks like different things. I can sit im my saddle from daylight till dark and doesnt bother me a bit, most comfortable way ive ever hunted in a tree. Hang ons,ladders, and climbers two hours tops and my back is toast and cant walk good for two days

This is true, people are just built different. One thing about a saddle that I'll miss is constant tension and using that as stabilization taking the shot. I have seriously toyed with ditching a traditional safety harness and using a saddle as a harness and can still turn around and sit if I'd like. The new buzz word for it is hybrid hunting.

I have actually hunted this way a few times and I really like it except for 2 things. 1) I shoot so much 3D and practice with my bino harness on I can't hardly shoot without it now and the most comfortable way for me to set up a tether and bridge really interferes with my bino harness. 2) Since a climber doesn't have sticks, if a stand were to fail I use a Wingman as a tether. If I were to fall out or fall asleep I have it set to slowly just set me on the ground. So obviously I couldn't put much tension on it for stabilization because it would start slowly letting out on me.

I could play with the Wingman and probably set it to where it would take a shock or my full weight before letting out but that's a fine line. I don't want to be dangling and trying to get allen wrenches out trying to loosen it up at 20'.

For me I HATE sticks and do not feel comfortable with them. I don't feel safe going up a tree in anything without a tether. I can go up a tree with a tether in a climber no problem. Hanging sticks with a tether, especially hooked to a saddle bridge is a PAIN to me. So, most use a lineman rope. Deer season of 2022 my top step failed and let me tell you, all a lineman rope does is keep you close to the base of the tree when you hit the ground. I hit every stick on the way down and was cut up pretty good.

 

[knightrider]

This is true, people are just built different. One thing about a saddle that I'll miss is constant tension and using that as stabilization taking the shot. I have seriously toyed with ditching a traditional safety harness and using a saddle as a harness and can still turn around and sit if I'd like. The new buzz word for it is hybrid hunting.

I have actually hunted this way a few times and I really like it except for 2 things. 1) I shoot so much 3D and practice with my bino harness on I can't hardly shoot without it now and the most comfortable way for me to set up a tether and bridge really interferes with my bino harness. 2) Since a climber doesn't have sticks, if a stand were to fail I use a Wingman as a tether. If I were to fall out or fall asleep I have it set to slowly just set me on the ground. So obviously I couldn't put much tension on it for stabilization because it would start slowly letting out on me.

I could play with the Wingman and probably set it to where it would take a shock or my full weight before letting out but that's a fine line. I don't want to be dangling and trying to get allen wrenches out trying to loosen it up at 20'.

For me I HATE sticks and do not feel comfortable with them. I don't feel safe going up a tree in anything without a tether. I can go up a tree with a tether in a climber no problem. Hanging sticks with a tether, especially hooked to a saddle bridge is a PAIN to me. So, most use a lineman rope. Deer season of 2022 my top step failed and let me tell you, all a lineman rope does is keep you close to the base of the tree when you hit the ground. I hit every stick on the way down and was cut up pretty good.

I hate the sticks also, ive went to an out on the limb big bob and one stick with it and love it. Ive seen guys doing the hybrid thing using only the bottom portion of the climber

 

[AlexDad]

I hate the sticks also, ive went to an out on the limb big bob and one stick with it and love it. Ive seen guys doing the hybrid thing using only the bottom portion of the climber

I tried one sticking - once, LOL! It just seemed like a lot of work to me. I've noticed the trend as well of people using the bottom of a climber and it doesn't make sense to me. For one you are limiting yourself to climber trees that saddle hunting is supposed to get you away from and if I'm taking a climber bottom, I'm definitely bringing that recliner top with the seat as well.

For me I'm still a climber guy that's just using a saddle in place of a traditional safety harness but using a climber like a climber. Others that prefer a saddle but use a climber in place of sticks seems counter intuitive to me.

Andy (TNDeerGuy on here) tried to teach me how to one stick about 2 years ago. He loves it. I'm all about the least amount of ropes and fiddle factor I can get. I like getting to hunting height and just sit down, I'm hunting. I also like the opportunity to shoot on the way up and down.

 

[ZachMarkus]

I have a saddle and a lone wolf .5 and sticks but I find myself carrying and hunting out of my summit open shot more than anything. I love bow hunting out of that thing.

 

[Savage Knight]

Oh ok! That's worth looking into. Thanks!

I bought one of these back in June, this will be my first year at trying the saddle deal. Definitely a learning curve but I will say jx3 is more comfortable then the tethrd I bought

 

[knightrider]

I tried one sticking - once, LOL! It just seemed like a lot of work to me. I've noticed the trend as well of people using the bottom of a climber and it doesn't make sense to me. For one you are limiting yourself to climber trees that saddle hunting is supposed to get you away from and if I'm taking a climber bottom, I'm definitely bringing that recliner top with the seat as well.

For me I'm still a climber guy that's just using a saddle in place of a traditional safety harness but using a climber like a climber. Others that prefer a saddle but use a climber in place of sticks seems counter intuitive to me.

Andy (TNDeerGuy on here) tried to teach me how to one stick about 2 years ago. He loves it. I'm all about the least amount of ropes and fiddle factor I can get. I like getting to hunting height and just sit down, I'm hunting. I also like the opportunity to shoot on the way up and down.

Completely understand, i only use two ropes, my tether/rappel rope and my pullup/let down rope. Hopefully the climber and saddle/ tether together will be the ticket for ya

 

[102]

I hunt from southern Illinois public land, down the I24 corridor following the rut from late October, down through Tennessee, and on into South Alabama through February 10th when it closes.

I ONLY use a compound bow.

I use several different styles of tree stands, steps. Millineum gang ons, and occasionally a ladder.

I hunt almost exclusively public, high hunter pressure deer.

These are hunter wary, 4 wheeler avoiding, scent checking, survival EXPERTS!

I have taken 61 whitetails in the past 3 seasons with my single season PB last year at 21 deer.

My stand is a 16 pound Summit Viper SD (round frame no longer available) with grip wrap all over it and a mesh seat (aftermarket)

Why would I want to use a saddle?
Everywhere I go in the South there is a climbing tree behind every climbing tree.

I ALWAYS use a harness. So I have THREE points of contact while on a tree. Upper and lower climbing section, and harness tree rope.

I have a built in pack on my climber seat and can easily pack clothing, etc, in and out on my climber with a simple bungee cord.

I have never met a single hunter who can stand at the bottom of the tree next to me with a saddle and get up the tree, pull the bow up, and get off a shot before I do.

I regularly climb from 6" to HUGE trees with total confidence.

And these stands are super comfortable.

I have hunted places where climbers just won't work. Iowa public for example has trees in good spots but climbers won't work because you can't trim limbs. Hang ons or saddles may be better.

But everyone needs to find what works for them. Saddles are great. I just prefer less prep time and less hassle.